ANNI’S RICRAC
TIP I worked with ricrac on
this project that was^5 ⁄ 8 in wide.
I elected to trim the bottom edge
to reduce the bulk around the edge
of my quilt. But if you can find
ricrac in a colour to suit your quilt
that is only^1 ⁄ 2 in wide, use it and
you won’t need to trim it. If you can
only find ricrac in a colour to suit
your quilt that is wider than^5 ⁄ 8 in
wide, you can still use it. Just trim
it in the same way as described in
Step 22 – you’ll just be trimming
a little more of the bottom ‘waves’
than you would with^5 ⁄ 8 in ricrac.ANNI DOWNS
How would you describe your particular
craft style? A little naive and whimsical,
with warm hues and low contrast.
Did your distinctive style happen over
time or was it immediate when you started
stitching? I am always developing, and
my style is quite diff erent from when I first
began. When I started, I did much more
piecing of images – now I prefer to appliqué
my images. The colours I use now are much
lighter than they used to be. Some of my
earlier designs are still some of my
favourites, but others look very chunky
compared to what I do now. I guess it’s a
‘move with the times’ approach, whereby
you constantly evolve and change what you
do because of what is surrounding you. But
I think, ultimately, I have always had my
own distinctive look; I see it as just like
handwriting – everyone has their own
fingerprint on what they do.
Are you good at all the crafts you have tried?
Gosh no! I tried crochet and just couldn’t work
out where to put that crochet hook – I created
a bunch of weird-looking knots. I definitely
need some assistance there.
What sorts of crafts do you avoid like the
plague? Anything that includes masses of
glue and sparkles. I’m a traditionalist at heart
and avoid anything too kitsch or cutesy.
How many craft shows do you participate
in? s far as retail shows go, I usually only A
attend a few around my area as well as the
huge Craft and Quilt Fair in Sydney. This year,
I went to the Melbourne Quilt Convention
and am hoping to try a few others now my
husband is free to explore with me.
Do you enjoy these shows and meeting
enthusiastic stitchers? It’s always brilliant
to join in the buzz of a show. The setup is
exhausting, but the following days are SO
much fun, meeting up with those you chat
with over the phone or via email or from
workshops in the past, or simply those who
you see because they visit you every year.
It’s like a family reunion. We even have a
couple of wonderful women bring us slice.
(Pete, my husband, loves them the most!)
If the good fairy granted you three wishes,
what would you like them to be? Of course
I am going to say more time, more hands and
now, sadly, better eyes! I just went for my first
pair of glasses last week ... EEP! I would like
a fourth wish, though, and that would be
a machine to ping me all over the world in a
second. How great would that be?
Of all the designs you’ve created, which
has been your favourite? In My Garden Block
of the Month is still my all-time favourite,
along with Gossip in the Garden. I spent ages
creating these two designs, and so they feellike a part of me. They’re definitely the ones
I would try to save in a fire!
And which has been most popular with the
public or gift recipient? An Angel Story quilt
is still the one I have feedback on the most.
I think a lot of people identify with it. And the
quilt from my book A Simple Life would come
a close second.
Are you happy with the space you work in –
what are its limitations and benefits? What
I have now is a small corner in a spare room
of our house, which I share with a double bed
and loads of paraphernalia. Really, I use the
corner to store my bits and pieces, then take
most of what I’m working on out to the
dining-room table to be with my family. My
dream would be a huge sewing space with
a table just for my sewing machine, one for
my lightbox and one for planning and creating
everything on. I’d also want many windows for
lots of natural light (plus a nice view to look
out on and dream); a few walk-in cupboards
to hide everything in; oh, and a personal robot
to clean up after me and maybe do the
pressing of seams.
What are your five favourite craft blogs for
casual craft browsing? I don’t really have a
favourite craft blog. If ever I’m browsing on
the internet, I often just Google a quilty word
or two and just scroll through the gorgeous
images – a great way to come across
something a little diff erent and unique to
start the creative juices.
Do you have any sewing gadget you never
use? I would deem myself the most basic of
basic when it comes to gizmos and gadgets.
I just use my regular supplies – the stuff that
I can’t do without. I am racking my brain,
trying to think of something I don’t ever use
and am coming up with a big fat blank.Gett ing to know ...
Finishing
21
From the ricrac, cut:- Four lengths, 34in.
22
Trim each length of ricrac(^1) ⁄ 4 in below the upper valley,
as shown in Diagram 2.
23
Pin a length of ricrac to each
edge of the quilt with the
straight cut edge of the ricrac
matching the raw edge of the
quilt and with the ricrac lying
on Border 2. See Diagram 3.
Baste the ricrac in place.
24
Measure your quilt top
vertically and horizontally
through the centre. Trim the
Diagram 2
¼in